Paris-based Moveria has taken international sales on Taiwanese filmmaker Lu Po-Shun’s debut feature, Will You Still Be My Friend, ahead of planned appearances in San Sebastián’s New Directors sidebar and the Busan International Film Festival. A trailer has also been unveiled. This account is based on reporting by Variety.
The Taiwan-Singapore co-production stars Jaden Wang and Aloysius Looi as boys whose friendship is pressured by escalating conflict between their families and rural community. Lung Tien Hsiang, Lu Yi-Ching, Andie Chen, Kate Pang and Xing Chang also appear. The film is additionally in contention for San Sebastián’s Sebastiane Award, recognizing films exploring LGBTQIA+ themes and experiences. Variety
Eric Chou Tseng-Chen and Yu-Hao Su produced through InLight Film Studio and Verdant Peak Films. Moveria sales and acquisitions head Yasmin Porangaba said the company responded to the boys’ open-ended relationship and the space they find together away from social expectations. No territory sales, release dates or buyer commitments have been announced. Variety
The historical parallel
There is a useful but limited precedent in Goran Stolevski’s Of an Age, another independently positioned queer coming-of-age film centered on a young male relationship. Focus Features acquired its international rights in 2022; by January 2023, it had confirmed U.S. and Australian theatrical dates after its Melbourne festival opening. Variety, The Guardian
The comparison does not predict the same route here. Of an Age was an Australian film acquired by a distributor, while Will You Still Be My Friend is a Taiwan-Singapore production newly represented for sales, with a different festival sequence and a rural inter-family conflict at its center. The earlier example shows a possible route from industry positioning to named releases, not proof that sales representation or festival exposure will produce them.
How the effects could spread
Moveria now has a defined role in presenting the film to international buyers around San Sebastián and Busan. If those appearances proceed and buyers respond, territorial specialty distributors could move from evaluating the title to negotiating rights and planning local releases.
That chain can break at several points: festival exposure may not generate sufficient buyer interest, distributors may prioritize competing titles, or no territorial agreement may be reached. For audiences seeking clearly sourced film-industry news, the meaningful next development is therefore a named rights deal or release plan, rather than the sales appointment alone.
Impact assessment
Moveria immediately adds a debut feature with two announced festival appearances to its sales slate, giving it responsibility for buyer outreach.
For InLight Film Studio, Verdant Peak Films, Chou and Su, the appointment potentially broadens access to international distribution conversations over the coming weeks. It does not yet change public access to the film, because no distributor or release commitment has been reported.
Specialty distributors face a nearer-term acquisition decision: the trailer, festival route and Moveria representation put the film into a more structured marketplace. Outside San Sebastián and Busan, festival programmers may also take greater notice, though no further selections are confirmed.
Scenarios
Our outlook (informed speculation)
Most likely: If the announced festival berths proceed and Moveria actively markets the film, the near-term outcome is likely a more organized international acquisition campaign rather than an immediate wide release. Over weeks to 12 months, Moveria could use screenings and the trailer to arrange territory discussions, while buyers selectively assess the debut feature. Buyer meetings, market screenings, additional festival invitations or a territory acquisition would strengthen this path; withdrawn screenings or no post-festival sales activity would weaken it.
Upside: If San Sebastián or Busan reception attracts specialty distributors whose local strategies suit the film, one or more territories could be acquired within six to 12 months. That would shift the title from festival-and-industry circulation toward distributor-led local release planning, potentially widening audience access. A named buyer, territory rollout or release date would support this outcome.
Downside: If festival exposure does not convert into buyer commitments, Moveria may continue representing the film without an announced territorial release, leaving its near-term circulation largely in festival and industry channels. This depends on distributor appetite and competition for acquisition attention. The absence of a rights deal, release plan or added programming after the scheduled festivals would point in that direction.
What to watch next
- A public announcement naming a territorial buyer and rights or release arrangement.
- Confirmation that Will You Still Be My Friend screens in San Sebastián’s New Directors program.
- Confirmation of its Busan appearance.
- Any additional festival or market selections announced by Moveria or the producers.
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